Abbas presses for permanent status negotiations

WASHINGTON - Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas on Thursday called for immediate action to be taken on holding permanent status negotiations as Israel proceeds with its planned withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and parts of the West Bank.
Abbas said the Palestinians view the withdrawal "as part of the process of ending the occupation. As such, this withdrawal should not be on the expense of the West Bank.
"We must then immediately move towards permanent status negotiations, dealing with issues at the core of the conflict, namely East Jerusalem -- the capital of the future Palestinian state -- refugees, settlements, borders, security and water on the basis of President Bush's vision, United Nations resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative."
"It is time for the Palestinian-Israel conflict to end," he declared.

05/26/2005 15:45 GMT